OCaml

LexiFi uses OCaml as its primary
implementation language. LexiFi maintains its own version of the
language, with powerful extensions, and contributes actively to the
evolution of the official version. LexiFi's full control over
its implementation stack enables tremendous flexibility in
making its technology available in a wide range of technical
environments.

LexiFi is looking to hire talented OCaml developers. If you
are interested, please apply by sending an email
to careers@lexifi.com.

OCaml and LexiFi's products

In addition to using OCaml internally, LexiFi also exposes modified
OCaml compilers as key components of
the LexiFi platform. Most of the
LexiFi platform components,
including MLFi
(LexiFi's Contract Description Language), are shipped as OCaml
libraries, and made available to other languages via various
means. Several OCaml features, such as user-defined algebraic
datatypes and module signatures, work together to make the
interfaces for these libraries clean, robust, and easy to discover.

LexiFi's end-user application, LexiFi
Apropos, can be extended with new financial instruments, models
or analytics. The extensions take the form of
user-written addins written in OCaml. Addins can be edited
directly in the application itself through its integrated
development environment. Only a limited subset of OCaml is needed to
make good use of LexiFi's libraries when writing new addins. Users
with some mathematical background can quickly become familiar enough
with the language to create new financial instruments even if they
are not professional programmers.

LexiFi's embeddable component,
called Instrument Box, enables
third-party technology providers to benefit from LexiFi technologies.
Several of such customers have grown internal teams of OCaml developers
after their integration of Instrument Box.

Integrated Development Environment

Customize your system with LexiFi Apropos' integrated development environment.

Click image to enlarge.

What is OCaml?

OCaml is a modern open source programming system. The project has
received continuous support
from INRIA (The French National
Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control) over the
past thirty years and is still actively maintained and extended.

OCaml combines the three prevalent programming paradigms
(functional, imperative and object-oriented) in powerful ways. Its
strong type system helps writing solid code and ensures tremendous
agility during code refactoring and evolution. In addition to its
high-level features, OCaml is also known for its high performance
(efficient runtime system and native compilers).

Merger of the two AT&T and Intel assembler backends for x86
and amd64 (OCaml 4.03).

Why did LexiFi select a functional programming language to implement its products?

OCaml is exceptionally well adapted to the implementation of
symbolic manipulation tools such as domain specific
languages. LexiFi found that OCaml was the most effective tool for
developing
its financial
contract description technology.

It turned out that OCaml is also a great general-purpose programming
language, very well suited not only for developing elaborate technology,
but also for organising the development of less exotic parts of the
applications, such as user interfaces or database layers.

Today, the use of OCaml is a key ingredient in LexiFi's ability to
meet and exceed its customers' demands in a timely fashion.